Harvest Festival Series ~ Kadazandusun or Kadazan and Dusun?

The Kadazan/Dusun have a legend of their origin. As my own father told me, the origin of his forefathers were from a place called Nunuk Ragang. This legend was handed down orally by his forefathers down to his children till today.

Kadazan people of Penampang (photo courtesy: sabah.edu.my)

Dusun girls (Photo courtesy: flickriver.com)

It was said that the Kadazan/Dusun people originated from a place called ‘Nunuk Ragang’ which is roughly located at Tampias, where two rivers, Liwagu and Gelibang meet to the east of Ranau and Tambunan.
Nunuk is a Dusun word for ‘Bayan Tree’, Ragang comes from the word ‘Aragang’ which means red. Nunuk look like giant that provide good natural shelters. It’s tree top was estimated to be able to shelter under seven Kadazan/Dusun huts (a hut measure 12 by 20 feet).

It’s numerous branches and giant thick foliage provide for ideal shelter and playground of wild life; bird, insect and even spirit according to local belief. When the sun rose the Nunuk Ragang settlers would climb to the branches of the Nunuk tree to bask in the sun and then enjoy plunging into the great cool river pool below. It was believed that the roots of the Nunuk tree produce red latex that gave the pool not only reddish coloration but also its medicinal value. Thus the name Nunuk Ragang. Nunuk latex is still used to treat rashes andother minor skin diseases.

These early inhabitant at Nunuk Ragang lived a care free life enjoying the abundant richness of nature that surrounded them.

It was also related in the lagend that the Chinese adventures from Kinabatangan and Labuk areas had their first encounter the Kadazan/Dusun.

A marriage between one of the Chinese heroes and the daughter of the Kadazan/Dusun cheif soon followed. The dowry were said to be of 7 huge jars plus copper and silver wares.

As time went on, the population increased, making food hard to get nearby. The Nunuk Ragang began to bend lower and lower into the river. The chief then instructed his men to look for new settlement. Thus river tributaries became the principle guide to the direction of travelling. Each group followed different tributaries of the river, thus it is found today that Kadazan/Dusun are found mainly along rivers and hills.
Each group formed their own long-house for unity and strength against wild beast and intrusion by other communal groups. As they spread westward that Kadazan/Dusun met the brunei and other settlers of West. The advent of the Bajau referred to by the old flok as ‘Sama’.

The Bajau/Sama People

Photo courtesy: melvinho.com; odysseyist.wordpress.com

The early Kadazan/Dusun never actually had name for themselves as a tribal people. Wherever they settles, they were named according to the natural significant of a place, be it trees, rivers, landscape or even peculiar or significant occurrence.

The word ‘Dusun’ is a Brunei Malay word for an orchard or those who plant crop in the inland. Later then the British adopted the word ‘Dusun’ to describe the native people.
The people however were related that their early predesseor from China namely ‘Lo Sun’ and company, the chinese immgrant adopted the ‘Dusun’ name for the tribal people.

However, the word Kadazan was adopted in the early 60′s by the educated Kadazan to liberate themselves from the word Dusun. But however, some people still prefer to call themselves Dusun and therefore the KDCA has made a resolution to use both names Kadazan/Dusun.